Caitlin McNamara of Moxie & Oliver, The Featured Designer for October

What inspired you to start designing? When I started working with leather, I was employed at a law firm. It was my first job out of college and I just wasn't used to wearing such professional clothing, and I was so bored! I tried to spice up my outfits from time to time, but found that every time I did something unique, I was called into my supervisor's office for violating the office dress code. I needed to find a way to subtly spice up my wardrobe, so I started making my own belts, and it just grew from there.

What's your background and have you always been creative?  Are there other artistic endeavors you're involved in?
I have always been creative, ever since I was a wee little girl.  I’ve worked in photography and have learned at least a little of most everything (ceramics, glass casting, metal casting, printmaking, and woodworking). Right now, my artistic talents are dedicated 90% to leather and 10% to decorating our house.

Your line shows a clear love for feminine, colorful designs yet with a hip and funky flair. How do you come up with your designs?
A lot of my designs are based on my travels, whether it’s the evening run with my dog, or a trip around the world.  Sometimes this means I base my design on a flower that I saw in my neighbor’s yard, or sometimes it’s a building in Italy. I like incorporating themes from a diverse range of sources so that my products have a broad appeal.

How did you get into working with leather? What other types of mediums have you worked in?    
I worked with leather when I was a young girl during summers in the Rocky Mountains.  There wasn’t much to do other than leather tooling and riding horses, and one can only take so much horseback riding. I never had any of my own tools, though, until a few years ago when I really needed to make my own belts. That was when I really started working with leather, in a serious fashion. I’ve worked in just about every other medium, but really like this one the best. There is a lot of flexibility in what you can do with leather.

Do you work out of your home or do you have a studio? What type of equipment do you use for the whole process?
I can answer half of the question. I do work at home, in my home studio. I can’t really say much about the process, though, because it’s unique to my work. I use all hand tools, but none of them are the traditional leather working tools, which is why I tend to keep them a bit on the secret side.

What has been the most difficult thing so far about starting your own line?
Finding a place to sell it. Going in to talk to stores was very, very difficult. I’m not used to selling myself, and can’t say I really like it. I just want to make leather things for people to wear and enjoy.
 
Whose work do you admire?
I have a lot of respect for traditional leather crafters. I know a few of them here locally, and they do wonderful work. The traditional leather craft is very detailed, and incredibly time consuming. It’s also a dying art, and so I have a great respect for anyone who tries to keep it alive in it’s true form.

Where do you find your inspiration?
I'm constantly finding inspiration, or it's finding me. I can't say I ever really look for it. Nature comes up with its own incredible color pallets and patterns and sometimes I just borrow them. I have been inspired by my trips to Mexico. The bold use of colors is just outstanding – much more striking than a lot of what you find in the US.

What advice would you offer new designers entering the market?
Be persistent. It can be painfully slow to build a reputation for yourself, and you can’t start out couture. You need to plan to grow as you can afford it, and as the market can afford you.

What is your vision for your business and where would you like to be in five years?
I haven’t really thought about it. I like what I’m doing right now, working on my leather on the evenings and weekends, and it seems to be working well. In five years, I have no idea.  As long as I still have time to come up with new designs, and am still selling my work, I think I’ll be happy.

Any other area of fashion you'd like to delve into?
Possibly shoes, but mostly because I love them more than any normal person should.

What current trend would you like to see go away?
These have been around for awhile, but T-shirts with phrases on them, especially perverse phrases. If I never saw a T-shirt with words on it again I'd probably be happy.

If you could have one item, new or vintage, what would it be?
Probably a vintage Cartier love bracelet, for no apparent reason than that I saw one on CSI one time and thought it was cool.

What was your favorite fashion related item growing up?
Probably my first pair of John Fluevog boots. I loved them. They laced all the way up. They were so much cooler than everyone else’s Doc Martins!

You can find Moxie & Oliver at the following locations: Etsy.com | Moxie & Oliver

Archive of Past Featured Designers:
Miyuki Ott - August 2007
Seed Clothing - September 2007
Moxie & Oliver - October 2007
MishMash - November 2007
Tarah Prater Designs - December 2007